Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent military purge has sparked concerns among experts who believe that he may be preparing for a potential World War III scenario. According to Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, President Xi is actively seeking to gain control of the military, indicating his willingness to engage in armed conflicts.

Chang pointed out that there is a prevailing sense among China's general officers that they are reluctant to go to war. This has prompted President Xi to revamp China's military since assuming power in 2012. In his latest New Year's speech, Xi adopted a particularly belligerent stance on Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of reunification and asserting China's intention to seize control of the island.

President Xi's actions were further evidenced by his sudden dismissal of nine high-ranking officers from the Chinese military on December 29, 2023. While reports initially suggested that the purge aimed to root out officers linked to corruption, Chang argued that it is more likely that Xi is targeting those who are hesitant to engage in warfare.

Joel Wuthnow, a senior research fellow at the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, believes that Xi's efforts to prepare China for war are closely aligned with his aim to eliminate corruptive influences. The removal of the nine commanders, who were associated with China's Rocket Force, a crucial component in any potential military campaign, underlines Xi's concerns about the quality of personnel and equipment within the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

However, experts caution that the likelihood of a major conflict breaking out remains uncertain. China's recent involvement in various territorial disputes, such as its incursions into Taiwan's air defense zone and clashes with Japan in the East China Sea, makes it difficult to predict the specific location of a potential escalation. Chang emphasized that it could be misleading to focus solely on Taiwan, stressing the importance of considering broader geopolitical factors.

Xi's remarks regarding Taiwan, including his warning to President Biden about "playing with fire," suggest that he may be inadvertently talking himself and China into war, according to Chang. Drawing parallels to the multiple conflicts that ultimately converged into World War II, Chang highlights the risk of such a scenario unfolding in East Asia.

Wuthnow, on the other hand, believes that Xi's military ambitions may be hindered by Russia's experience in Ukraine. He points out that Russia has paid a high price for its misadventures and suggests that a failed invasion would have severe political ramifications for Xi.

As tensions rise and uncertainty looms, experts caution that a Chinese invasion in East Asia would likely trigger a larger conflict involving Western countries. Xi's approach, reminiscent of Mao's Peasant Revolution playbook, could potentially encircle major powers such as the United States. The international community closely watches China's actions as concerns about the possibility of World War III continue to grow.